“Houston is on the “coastal flyway” which gets a lot less monarch traffic than the main route they take, which is west of us, through Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, etc,” explains Nancy.

“But Thursday we noticed lots and lots of monarchs in our outdoor butterfly garden, stopping for nectar before heading on – and they were definitely all flying southwest. We tagged 11 of them since we had some tags from Monarch Watch.”

She also hears there are big numbers in Corpus Christi now. However, Nancy warns, despite these sightings, the predictions are for a relatively small migration this year (at least in terms of overall numbers) because the monarchs have had a tough summer (cold and rainy up north, drought in the south).

For this reason, she’s convinced that butterfly gardens, such as those around the Museum of Natural Science in Hermann Park (where the Cockrell is located) have become very important waystations.

The Audubon Society has an incredible habitat rebuilding website for Bolivar Peninsula. It lists numerous habitat-important plants for not only the birds these members want to attract, but for butterflies as well. Numerous butterfly counts take place on Bolivar, which is part of birders’ International Flyway.

Log onto www.houstonaudubon.org. Click on “Bolivar Naturally.” These plants will all work well for us in Houston if we put them in raised beds or very well drained areas (remember, sometimes we do have monsoon rains!).

Audubon Society's webpage is an incredible resource for anyone who wants to attract butterflies.

My neighborhood has had outbreaks of St. Louis encephalitis in the past and now sprays for mosquitoes up to three times per week. We have no bees, few wasps, and almost no butterflies. It is such a shame. Every year I plant wildflowers, especially for the monarchs, but I’m lucky to see even a couple land on them.

I keep reading the overall numbers of monarchs are down, but there seem to be more monarchs in my yard then ever. 6-8 on my butterfly weed!! WOW I feel like a really good gardener and somehow, should break my arm patting myself on the back. But I really do know better!

The monarchs seem to love my pink zinnias. I planted them by seed on July 4th and they are beautiful now after getting them through the dry summer by watering and shading. They also like the purple verbena, milkweed and the lavender duranta and the mexican flame vine. Do you know what other flowers that people are seeing them on this fall?